Inpatients with dengue fever. Illustrative photo. (Source: VNA)

(VNA) – Hospitals across
Hanoi are at full capacity treating dengue fever patients.

Since the beginning of this year, Vietnam
has recorded more than 71,000 dengue fever cases, with some 60,000 people
hospitalised, a year-on-year increase of 24.8 percent. Hanoi alone has reported
about 8,000 cases.

Due to the disease’s spread, most of Hanoi’s
leading are overloaded.

The treats
hundreds of people with dengue fever symptoms every day, forcing its medical
staff to work earlier and through weekends to fight the epidemic.

The hospital also established a care centre
during daytime in its hall to reduce overloading. The centre, equipped with 20
beds, aims to serve patients from Hanoi who need daytime treatment before
returning home in the evening.

Director of the hospital Nguyen Van Kinh
predicts that the situation will continue due to abnormal weather and the
increase of dengue patients in Hanoi.

Dong Da Hospital is also overloaded, serving
400-500 dengue patients daily, about 20 percent of whom hospitalised. It has to
arrange more space for dengue treatment, even in doctors’ workrooms.

Additionally, Thanh Nhan hospital receives
some 300 patients with dengue fever every day.

The Health Ministry urged localities to
continue implementing recommendations on dengue prevention and control which
include destroying habitats where mosquitoes breed, ensuring a clean living
environment, using mosquito repellents and wearing long-sleeved shirts and
pants..

is a viral infection
transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no specific treatment
for dengue and vaccination options are limited.

Patients who develop a sudden high fever of 39-40 degrees Celsius, lasting 2-7
days and with symptoms of headaches, tenderness and skin rashes should visit a
hospital for diagnosis and treatment.-VNA